Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1887-01-15

81 Ct tnA1 mGt1tut1ou, ass ouhmi4oDd -
18th 1hey present, IN dslsis H. so1&jo1
md work OF the penitentiary during - -
biennial period, and furnish estims3o6 e -
needs for tho future. The neceosity IN {
tsmale prison and . ward for the inaone =
apparent The institution IL crowded -
yond its capacity. On the LIST Of July; 1854
4 contained 75l prisoners; July 1st, 1855
his number had increased TO $40; July II,
l6e6, to 800: and on the 1st Of January, 1857,
the number was 954. There are only 7O0
sells in the institution, 90 that In each ct
254 cells, two prisoners are placed.
The penitentiary continues self-sustain.
ing. For the fiscal year ending June %
1885, the earnings aggregated $3.50, 466 81;
expenditures. $148, 20l OF; excess Of earn
ings, 81, z65 80. For the fiscal year ending
June 80. 1886, the earnings aggregated
SEQ, TBS o.; expenditures, $l6s,579 n; e.
sees of earnings, ISL ,205 sc. Excess OF earn
PEARS, $9S, All Is In the expenditures, too,
are counted total Of $45, 129 o. for perma-
nent improvements, so that the earnings Of
The institution. during the last biennial Pc
Rod. really exceeded its expenditures $13&-
700 g. The total cost of maintaining The
prisoners, including salaries, Boarding,
slothin2, bedding, and all other expenses
properly charged to msintenance, has also
been steadily reduced. For 1870 it averaged
O15 cents for each prisoner; for 1876, 81
g. 100 cents; for 1887 Al SS-iOO cents, and
Tor 1886, Al 2 5 cents.
The Kansas penitentiary is regarded by
.tadents of the penal and reformatory insti-
sutions of the United States as q model
prison. It's discipline is firm, but humane.
The prisoners are we'll cared for, both phys
ically and morally. The warden, Captain
John II. Smith, has exhibited, in his man
.I.ement of the institution the highest quail
tiles of lrison official-thorou2h business
capacity and untiring energy, combined
With firmness and kindness; and he has
had, in all his efforts to improve the prison,
the support of the directors and the cordial
evaporation of his subordinate officers.
TIE STATE RKFoRMAToRS.
One wing of the new Industrial reforma-
tory, at Hu Crimson, is nearly completed,
and the legislature should make provision
for organizing its official force, and for the
erection of the administration and other
necessary buildings. In my special message
OF 1876, expressed my warm approval OF
this purpose of this institution, aud my be
lief that not one-half Of the prisoners ssn
fenced to confinement in the penitentiary
naturally belong to the criminal classes.
Their age, the nature of their offences, the
light sentences imposed on many of them,
and the frequent appeals made in their be-
half for executive clemency by judges, proc
ecuting attorneys and jurors, all Justify the
belief that hundreds of these youthful law
breakers might, by q judicious course of dis
cipline and training, be reclaimed and re-
formed. I therefore regard the establish
ment OF the Industrial reformatory as mark
ing new era in the administration of ju+
tlce, and sincerely hope that the Legislature
will make ample provisions for equipping,
opening and completing it. The report Of
the reformatory commissioners gives full
information concerning its present condi-
ton and requirements. Authority of Law
should be given to transfer to the reforma-
tory, as soon as it is ready for their recep.
ton, certain classes of prisoners now os
fined in the penitentiary.
THE TWO FENAL INSTITUTIONS.
The directors anu warden of the periten-
tiary, as you will observe by their reports,
present facts showing the necessity of an
additional cell house at that institution.
There can be no question concerning the
necessity of an appropriation for that pur-
pose, If it is not deemed advisable to provide
the additional cell room required at the re-
formatory, and transfer to that institution,
from the penitentiary, several hundred pris-
oners. This would relieve the penitentiary,
and at the same time fulfill the purpose for
which the industrial reformatory has been
established, viz: to remove youthful law
breakers, and those convicted of the milder
types of crime from enforced association
with old and hardened criminals.
The Legislature should, during its present
session, fully determine the character and
purposes, as well as the general plan and
for their organization and governments;
direct what classes or grades of law breakers
shall be sentenced to each; and, in brief, de-
termine how each shall be equipped, organ
lied, managed and maintained.
The demand for additional room in our
penal institutions does not indicate or prove
increasil criminality or law breaking. Il
state in population. In 1880 Kansas had
only 996, 900 inhabitants; our population TO-
day exceeds 1,50O, 200. The proportion Of
criminals per capita is not as great now a. il
was six years ago. In 1880 the penitentiary
contained 691 prisoners, or one for every
!, Al inhabitants. The average number in
confinement during the fiscal year 1886 was
the demands for additional room by our
educational and charitable institutions are
larger and more imperative than are those
for increased cell room in our prisons.
THE SUPREME COURT.
A delay of JUST e is often an absolute de-
NAL of Justice. The docket of the supreme
court is so overburdened that, in many in
stances, long, expensive and vexatious delays
attend the final adjudication Of cases brought
before that tribunal. Nearly GOO cases ere
now on its docket, and over thirty new cases
are filed each month. The three Justices
the court are not able to dispose
of more than 800 cases each year, and the
undecided cases are therefore steadily in
It Is evident that some relief should bs
afforded. When our constitution was adopt
ed Kansas had only one hundred thousand
thirty-tvo organized counties,
and five judicial districts; We have nov
], SOC, 900 inhabitants, ninety eight organized
and twenty -four judicial districts.
Every order, decree or Judgment entered IN
these inferior courts, whether the amount
involved is large or small, can be taken %
the supreme court for review. When Ill
these facts are considered, it must be sppar-
emit that tho justices of the supreme court
have imposed upon them such laboFs g,
with due regard for the investigation and
study necessary to arrive at just Judgments.
cannot be performed.
An amendment to the constitution, pro-
posing an increase in the number Of 81
preme court judges, was voted down ut the
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